Display and storage rack



Oct. 19, 1954 G D 2,692,054

DISPLAY AND STORAGE RACK Filed Aug. 18, 1952 vr /4-- h I I I f f 3 u 5 Qu 0 LJ 1: Li U a /7 A i /6 INVENTOR. i HAROLD R. BERGL u/v0 PatentedOct. 19, 1954 DISPLAY AND STORAGE RACK Harold R. Berglund, Denver,0010., assignor to Denver Wood Products 00., Denver, 0010., acorporation of Colorado Application August 18, 1952, Serial No. 304,998

3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in display orstorage supports for a plurality of articles.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter which includes a base and a plurality of brackets or hookswhich may be easily and quickly detached from the base and attachedthereto in stable nonpivotal relation in various selected positionsalong the length thereof to accommodate various articles and sizesthereof.

Another important object of the invention is to provide each bracket orhook with a pair of arms terminating in anchoring ends which are bent inthe same direction, whereby after the arms are sprung apart to insertthe anchoring ends into vertically aligned sockets in the base, thebracket will be prevented from accidental turning on the axis of theanchoring ends and these ends will be prevented from accidentaldisplacement from the base, but at the same time, can be easily removedtherefrom when desired for storage or rearrangement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive supportof the above character which is not only durable, but is capable ofquick set-up, knock-down and storage.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course ofthe following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of the description andwherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe several views,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the improved rack or support brokenintermediate its ends to accommodate its length on the drawing and witha pair of hooks or brackets shown associated therewith,

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the support without the detachable hooksassociated therewith,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the base of support showinga bracket assembled therewith in operative position to support anarticle,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the brackets prior toassembly with the base, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the end of a modified shape ofbracket.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, wherein for the purpose ofillustration and not limitation, there is shown a preferred embodimentof the invention, which is adapted for the display and storage ofautomobile fan belts, radiator hoses, or any other articles which can behung from hooks or brackets. The numeral II] designates an elongatedbase having a plurality of openings II drilled transversely therethroughfor the reception of nails or screws by which it can be easily affixedto a wall or the like. This base in the present illustration is made ofa wooden board or strip of substantial thickness having its front faceformed. as an ornamental moulding effect I2 by grooving or routing theboard lengthwise as shown.

The top horizontal edge of this board I0 is drilled substantiallyvertically toward the center thereof and at spaced intervals withopenings I3 at an angle of about 97 degrees from the horizontal to forman upper series of sockets. These sockets are arranged in groups ofthree equally spaced sockets separated lengthwise of the base by a morewidely spaced single socket to accommodate various size articles on thebrackets, to be presently described and which are detachably mounted inthe sockets. The top edge of the base, coincident with each socket I3 tocross the upper end thereof, is provided with a transverse horizontalgroove or notch I4 extending through the front and back vertical facesof the base. The bottom horizontal edge of the base is also providedwith an opening I5 drilled toward the longitudinal center of the base inaxial alignment with each upper socket I3, thus providing the base witha series of pairs of substantially vertically aligned sockets I3 and I5spaced at intervals throughout the length of the base Ill, with thesockets of each pair arranged at substantially 97 degrees to thehorizontal. Intersecting and communicating the upper ends of the entireseries of lower sockets I5, is a horizontal groove I6 routed lengthwiseacross the entire front face of the base from end to end, as shown. Thisprovides the base II] with a horizontal shoulder II overhanging theupper end of each lower socket I5 to prevent accidental verticaldisplacement of the bracket associated therewith as will now bedescribed.

The hooks or brackets 9, one for each pair of vertically aligned socketsl3 and I5, each consist of a single length of resilient wire bent uponitself intermediate its ends to provide a loop or bight I8 with a pairof arms l9 and 20. The bight l8 shown in Fig. 5 can represent a moreclosed bight for a longer hook or bracket, or can represent the shape ofthe bight I8 prior to the arms I9 and 20 being sprung apart to beassembled with the base in a manner to be presently described When thebracket is not associated with the base It), its arms I9 and 20 assumethe slight converging relationship toward their free ends shown in Fig.4 so that the distance between their ends is less than the distancebetween these ends when the bracket is stressed and attached to thebase. Stated another way, the arms I9 and 20 are spaced apart a distanceless than that between the entrances to the sockets l3 and I5. Thus, toattach the bracket to the base, the arms [9 and 20 must be sprung orspread apart against the tension of the wire. The arm is extendsstraight back from the bight I8, while the arm 20 extends firstdownwardly thereof and then is bent at 2! at an angle of approximately125 degrees thereto. The shorter free end 22 of the arm 2!) is bentdownwardly thereof at an angle of approximately 92 degrees thereto,while the free end 23 of the upper arm I9 is bent downwardly at an angleof approximately 95 degrees thereto to be approximately aligned with thefree end 22 of the other arm 20.

Each bracket is assembled with the base I!) by leading the free end 22of the lower arm 20 into the groove l6 above the lower socket l andtilting the bracket upwardly to guide the angular end 22 down into thesocket 15. The upper arm i9 is grasped and sprung upwardly away from thelower arm 20 whereby the free angled end 23 of the upper arm may beguided into the upper socket l3. Pressure on the arms is then releasedso that the natural resilience in the wire will move the upper arm l9downwardly toward the lower arm 20 to move the angular end 23 fully intothe upper socket l3 until the adjacent portion of the arm I9 is seatedin its notch M to prevent turning of the bracket on the axis of theangular ends 22 and 23. Due to the difference in the angling of the twofree ends 22 and 23 and the fact that the two vertical sockets l3 and i5are in alignment, it Will be apparent that these ends will befrictionally bound in their sockets to resist both pivotal movement ofthe bracket relative to the base [9 and to resist accidentaldisplacement of the ends 22 and 23 from their sockets. To remove thebracket from the base, it is only necessary to grasp the upper arm 19and lift it to remove the end 23 from the socket l3 and then tilt thebracket forwardly from the base to remove the other end 22 from itssocket I5 and pull it out of the groove 16. The angular end 22 isshorter than the end 23 whereby it may enter and leave the socket !5without undue binding.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that any number ofthe brackets can be associated with the base in a multitude of differentspacings to accommodate various articles and that the device is capableof quick and compact storage, shipment, and erection. It will of coursebe apparent that various changes in the construction and arrangement ofthe various 6 parts of the device may be made without departing from thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article support comprising a base for mounting in a vertical planeand having a pair of substantially vertically disposed alignedopeningstherein and extending at a slight angle to the mounting facethereof, the face of said base having a grooved portion extendinghorizontally near the edge of the base on both sides of and adjacent oneof said openings and in communication therewith and providing a shoulderabove said one opening, a detachable wire bracket comprising a length ofresilient wire bent to provide a pair of arms having angular ends bentgenerally in the same direction whereby one end extends outwardly andthe other inwardly of said pair of arms, said ends being normally spacedapart a distance less than the distance between the entrances to saidopenings whereby said outwardly turned end may be inserted through saidgrooved portion into said one opening and the arms spread apart and thenreleased to insert said inwardly turned end into the other of saidopenings, said outwardly bent end having a length greater than theheight of said grooved portion.

2. An article support comprising an elongated base having upper andlower longitudinal edges provided with vertically aligned openings orsockets arranged in pairs throughout the length of said base, said basealso having a horizontal groove extending lengthwise thereof andcommunicating with the tops of said sockets in the lower edge to formshoulders above said lower sockets, a detachable wire bracket forcertain of said pairs of sockets comprisinga length of resilient wirebent to provide a pair of arms having angular ends bent downwardly ingenerally the same direction and normally spaced apart a distance lessthan the distance between said sockets whereby the lower arm and angularend may be inserted through said groove and into a lower socket and thearms spread apart then released to enter the upper angular end into theupper socket.

3. An article support as claimed in claim 2, with the upper edge of thebase provided with a transverse notch communicating with each socket insaid upper edge and adapted to receive the upper arm of the bracket whenthe upper angular end of said bracket is inserted into said uppersocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 178,247 Linscott June 6, 1876 330,497 Lash Nov. 17, 1885565,525 Tucker Aug. 11, 1896 1,223,998 Maynard Apr. 24, 1917 2,400,807Burkhard May 21, 1946 2,537,957 Berglund Jan. 16, 1951

